(I'm sorry for not mentioning when this chapter would be up in the previous update. Enjoy! ~RavensMind~)
Chapter 4: 'Nightwing' vs. 'Robin'
"Such an interesting choice, one that deserves a little discussion between us, don't you think?" Azar said, appearing behind Robin, surprising him.
After telling Raven about his desire for a change of scenery and identity and their short mediation session, Robin had dressed quickly and rushed back down to do some more research. For he thought he was so close to finding this criminal, he figured it would not take much time. He hadn't elaborated on his choice to change his crime-fighting symbol and identity with Raven yet, and already Azar wanted to talk to him about it. Whatever that entailed, he didn't know, but he could tell she had an agenda – she usually did.
"Could we do this later? I'm busy," Robin said, typing at his computer.
"No. We must discuss it now, lest you continue as you do…and I would hate for that to happen, we don't want things to get too messy again, do we?" Azar asked.
"What do you know?" Robin asked, spinning around in his office chair.
"I know you. I know what you're considering. Most importantly, I know what you need to do to help yourself, Raven, and your next city of choice," Azar said.
"So tell me, or let me do my work," Robin said.
"Straight to the point, how refreshing. Raven is having a good effect on you. The way you've been dealing with these criminals has not been efficient…you catch them, but they escape and return to their ways within months of being apprehended. Perhaps you might consider-," Azar began to explain, until Robin interrupted her.
"No way. We're not going to kill them - that is not what we do," Robin said.
"Oh, you say that now, but a moment will come when the choice is either the prolonged suffering and deaths of many, or the life of one determined delusional individual. Can you step outside of that little shell of black and white ethics for a moment to wonder how things might be so much better…for you, for your city? But killing them is not what I suggest," Azar said.
"…Then what else is there?" Robin asked.
"A different sort of prison. They wouldn't be dead and they would not be allowed to leave without passing certain checks. And those criminals could be studied to understand what makes them…kick and shoot. You Titans would be very efficient hunters to get these criminals trapped there, they can hardly manage to stand against you as it is, but it requires you to be more…aggressive than you're used to," Azar said.
"I don't like how this sounds. This prison sounds like it's too harsh of a punishment. It is not how the system works here, and I wouldn't be okay with it. And 'hunting' just…I don't like how you're putting all of this," Robin said.
"Given the choice, I believe you would not have hesitated to put the murderers who killed your parents in this place…given the choice, I believe your black and white ethics shell would have struggled against your will to not be ripped apart," Azar said.
"Maybe…but I would have regretted doing it. I know what you're trying to do, Azar," Robin said.
"No, you only know that I'm trying to get you to change your mind, nothing further – and that is a shame, I'd hoped Raven was getting you to learn more," Azar said.
"Have you talked to her about this "prison"?" Robin asked.
"Yes. She is almost as against it as you, reserving her change of opinion on the condition that I tell her more of this prison and she finds out how trying helping the next city proves to be," Azar said.
"I'll talk about it with the two of you, then. Right now, I want to catch this bastard," Robin said.
"You're not going to catch this one by searching randomly on your computer, or through your normal investigative techniques. This one will come to you, directly, in fact. Do catch them, though, 'Robin' – 'Nightwing' will need assurances that his friends will not be at risk," Azar said.
"You know who it is? Tell me!" Robin exclaimed.
"No. Everything you need to catch them has already been given to you. Besides, they are unwittingly helping me with a certain problem I'm having," Azar said.
"And what is that?" Robin asked, annoyed.
"Oh, I've lit this Fire that just won't burn quickly enough. When the last of that tinder is ash, I'll let you know, until then – I'm afraid you'll just have to wish upon whatever Stars that have been good to you," Azar said.
"That's supposed to give me a clue, that much I can tell," Robin said, listening to Azar's words.
"Very good. It'll come to you. Oh, will it come to you," Azar said, disappearing into the shadows.
Discovering the hint in Azar's words, Robin struggled in that moment to wonder. Why is Starfire a problem? Is she still wrapped up in the idea that I'll somehow come back to her, Robin wondered to himself. He needed to know, but he was worried that if he contacted the tower and asked about her in any way, it would be seen by Starfire as some sort of attempt to seek her – if she still had such thoughts. If Raven did it instead, it might only make Starfire more determined to think as she might.
Getting out of his chair, Robin left the office he was using and went upstairs to Raven's room. Raven said she would be resting the whole day, due to the nature of some of the spells she was learning. He wondered if he should save the matter for later, but he decided not to, mostly due to the tone of Azar's questions and suggestions.
"Raven?" Robin asked, opening her door.
Raven was lying in bed, as he had left her that morning. She was slow to wake, but came around eventually, as the sound of Robin closing the door echoed in the room.
"What?" Raven asked, sitting up halfway.
"We have to talk about something," he said, crossing the room to her.
"Yes?' she asked.
"Azar mentioned some sort of idea for a "prison" and hinted that the criminal I'm trying to find is going to deal with Starfire in some way, she might still think that I'll come back," he explained.
"I think we should talk to Azar together about her ideas on the prison, I'm surprised she went out of her way to mention it to you instead of waiting for me. As for Starfire…I can't say that I'm surprised about that," she said.
"Why? Did Azar say something to you about Star?" he asked.
"No, but the way you described her when she came here that day makes me think that it isn't unreasonable to think she still has a problem with us. Aliens…" she said.
"This is serious, if this criminal gets ahold of Starfire, I don't know what will happen to the others," he said.
"Honestly…I'm more concerned with what will happen to the criminal than with what happens to Starfire, unless Starfire turns out to be a criminal here," she said.
"Don't say that, she's still your friend, and you're still hers, and she won't do anything to hurt either of us," he said.
"I hope you're right…but, I'd rather know you're right," she said, getting an idea.
"What are you going to do?" he asked, "I don't think we should go to the tower."
"We won't have to," she said, "supposing this works out."
"What is it?" he asked.
"I met one of the recruits a few years ago, they helped me out of a difficult situation I was in with another criminal, and I asked you if I could make them an honorary Teen Titan. That's how they ended up higher in the selection pool of their new recruits, I'm very happy with one of their choices," she said.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"This will work better if you don't know, you'll have to trust me on this – they can let us know what Starfire might be doing or thinking," she said.
"You think we need a spy?" he asked.
"If Starfire is serious – then yes," she said.
"Nice idea," he said.
"I thought you would object," she said, surprised.
"'Robin' does, 'Nightwing' doesn't," he said, smiling at her.
"I could get used to you, Nightwing," she said, returning the smile.
Walking down the hall in Titans Tower, Terra headed back to check on Valora, hoping that she had given her enough time to get settled. There was a lot to do still, Razor and Valora had to be acquainted with the rest of the tower and shown various procedures. Also, they would have to begin sparring with the other team members, to not only display their skills, but also learn the many combat techniques the team had refined. Still, Terra figured they could afford to take some time to unwind and get better acquainted with each other.
Anticipating all the fun they could have with these new recruits as friends, Terra thought of Robin and Raven. It would have been sweet to see how they might have acted together if they hadn't left the team. Would the team have two leaders, instead of one and a second-in command? Would Robin have let Raven slide on certain duties, or the other way around? Probably not, but what did it matter now? They left. She missed them, but wondered if they might have been right to leave considering everything that was happening. May-Oh, what now?
Terra stopped short when she saw Beast Boy standing outside Valora's door with a water-balloon ready to throw. He can't be serious...
"Beast Boy! Drop it," Terra ordered, approaching him.
"C'mon, Terra, it's just a joke," Beast Boy said.
"Don't care, put it down," Terra responded.
"Fine," he said, sighing heavily as he made to drop it – but didn't. Instead, he threw it towards Terra, who easily dodged it as it went sailing past her and exploded against the wall.
"Missed. You never could hit me with that. Now go find Cyborg and play a game or whatever," Terra said.
"Why? I want to see these guys again – where did you find these weirdos anyway?" Beast Boy asked.
"They're not 'weirdos,' they're you're teammates, and you should be cool to them, because they'll be out there with us, and when you fall down– they might be picking you up," Terra said.
"You have to admit, this girl is-," Beast Boy started.
"Cool. And guess what? She probably already doesn't like you, big surprise there. Just get lost, BB," Terra said.
"Fine," he said, storming off with the motions of a pouting teenager.
Terra almost didn't believe what just happened. Almost. Really, it should have been expected. She was happy that Cyborg was not helping him with those little pranks and jokes anymore, maybe if he saw that only he thought it was cool or funny he might stop. Right, Terra, that'll happen, she thought.
Approaching Valora's door, Terra knocked twice and waited for an answer. She thought she heard Valora talking inside.
"-hold on. Who is it?" Valora asked from inside.
"It's Terra, wanna talk?" Terra asked.
"Yeah, sure, just a second, Terra- I've got to go, yes, I'll do it," Valora said.
The door opened and Valora emerged, smiling at Terra.
"Who were you talking to?" Terra asked.
"Just an old friend of mine. So, where do you want to go?" Valora asked.
"Do you like pizza?" Terra asked.
"Yes," Valora said.
"Then come on, I know a great spot downtown…if it's not under renovations again," Terra said.
"Hmm?" Valora asked.
"Seems like every time we go there, some crook decides to attack us and well…the place has seen better days and worse days, then better days," Terra said.
"I'd like to see them try and screw with you now, I'll stop them before they can blink," Valora said.
"Really?" Terra asked.
"Well, almost. You'll see later when we're practicing," Valora said.
"Right, let's go," Terra said.
(Next chapter should be up on August 11th. ~RavensMind~)